Separator for metals in liquid suspension



Feb. 2, 1965 J. H. MILNE sEPARAToR Foa METALS IN LIQUID SUSPENSION Filed March 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @df-QAM la! Il ,//Il I I I I |||||Ill|||||l|||| lllfllllml ||l||lQ|Ql||l||||| e fnl,

Feb. 2, 1965 J. H. MILNE 3,168,465

SEPARATOR FOR METALS IN LIQUID SUSPENSION Filed MaFCh l5, 1962 2 SheeS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John H. Milne BY MQW ATTORNEY United States Patent Utilice 3,168,466 Patented Feb. Z, 1965 3,168,466 SEPARATOR FOR METALS IN LIQUID I SUSPENSION John H. Milne, North Miami, Fla., assigner to Dredge ManufacturingCorp., a corporation of Florida Filed Mar. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 179,933 1 Claim.y (Cl. 210-94) The present invention relates to a separator for metals in liquidsuspension and it consists in the combinations, constructions andarrangements of parts herein described and clairned. v

VGenerally there is provided an apparatus for the separation of metals in liquid suspension particularly where such metals are in a rapidly moving body of liquid. The apparatus is particularly adaptable to use in connection with hydraulic dredging apparatus such as is shown, for example, in my previous patent, N0. 3,005,273, dated October 24, 1961. The apparatus includes a spiral pipe having transverse slots formed in the outer portions of the lower extremities of each convolution. Beneath each slot there is removably attached a preferably transparent container. There is also provided novel means for agitating liquid passing through the pipe in the area adjacent the aforesaid slots. The apparatus is such that the heavier particles which may be suspended in the rapidly moving liquid will be thrown to the outermost portions of the convolution of the pipe through centrifugal force with the assistance of gravity whereupon they will pass through the aforesaid slots into the containers to be recovered therefrom. The apparatus is particularly adaptable to the recovery of gold and other precious metals and may be utilized primarily for such purpose or in conjunction with other hydraulic dredging operations.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel apparatus for the separation of metals in liquid suspension.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, a novel recovery container forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character set forth which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means, in an apparatus of the character set forth, for centrifugally and gravitationally separating heavier metals from a liquid in which they may be suspended.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention shown in position upon a hydraulic dredge,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a hydraulic dredge generally indicated at and provided with a cutter head 11 operated by a motor 12 and adjacent which is an elongated ilow pipe 13 which is adapted to take the cuttings of the head 11 and the liquid in which the same are suspended and lead them to a hydraulic pump 14 within the hull portion 15 of the dredge 10, the pump 14 being operated by a suitable motor 16.

The output of the pump 14 discharges into a lead pipe 17 which extends vertically through the roof 9 of the dredge cabin 8 to connect with a horizontally extending spiral coil generally indicated at 18 and having a plurality of convolutions 19 and terminating in a discharge pipe 20 at the stern portion of the barge, which is adapted to be connected to a distribution pipe line, not shown. The coil 18 extends longitudinally of and substantially parallel to the roof 8.

To the outer side of the lowermost portion of each convolution 19 there is removably attached by any suitable means such as screws `21 or the like, in each case, a recovery container 22 which is preferably and as shown formed of a transparent plastic material. As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a slot 23 extends transversely in the lower outermost portion of each of they convolutions 19 and, of course, lies within the confines of the recovery container 22 when the latter is in position.

The liow of fluid through the pipe coil 18 is indicated, in FIGURE 3, by the arrow 24 and on the approach side of the slot 23 there is formed or aflixed to the inner wall of the convolution 19 immediately adjacent the slot 23 a curvilinearly upwardly extending abutment or riffle 25. A butterfly valve 26 is centrally and pivotally mounted, as indicated at 27 and extends transversely in the slot 23. It will, of course, be understood that the valve 26 will be provided with a suitable projecting handle, not shown, to permit of manual adjustment thereof, in an obvious manner. Furthermore, if desired, any other suitable valve, such as a gate valve, may be employed in lieu of the buttery valve.

In operation, it will be apparent that as the cutter head 11 loosens and discharges various subsurface materials that the same will be delivered along with the surrounding uid through the pipe 13 to the motor 14 and thence to the pipe 17 where it will then pass through the various convolutions 19 of the coil 1S and eventually discharge through the pipe 20.

During this passage of the uid and suspended particles through the convolutions 19, it will be apparent that, particularly since such fluid usually moves at a relatively rapid rate of speed approximately sixteen `to twenty-two feet per second, that the heavier particles contained in suspension in such fluid such as, for example, gold, platinum, silver, thorium, titanium, beryllium, manganese, tungsten and the like, will be forced outwardly in each of the convolutions 19 by centrifugal force. Thus, the heavier particles moving rapidly through the various convolutions will have already attained a position against the outermost portions of the walls 18 of the various convolutions 19 when the various vslots 23 are reached. At this time, gravity will assist in moving such heavy particles through the slots 23 into the containers 22. To assist in carrying out this movement, the riles 25 are provided for churning up the uid as it approaches the slots 23. When an appreciable amount of desirable ore has been collected in any one of the containers 22, the same may be seen through the transparent sides thereof and the container 22 removed, first closing the valve 26 during such operation. After replacing the container 22, the valve 26 may, of course, be reopened.

Likewise, it should be understood that where a cabin is provided on the dredge 10, such as shown in FIGURE 1, it may be desirable that the lower portions of the various convolutions 19 may terminate adjacent the cabin roof, in which case, various containers 22 will be arranged within the interior of the cabin and will project upwardly through openings in the roof for connection to the convolutions, as previously described. Thus, access to the containers would be had from within the cabin for removal of the accumulated ores from the containers.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: l

An apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontally extending hollow coil for accommodating the ow of a liquid-,solid suspension therethrough and having a transverse slot 'formed yin the outer side of thebottom portion of each convolution lthereof, a transversely Vextending rife having a curvular upper face Lmounted in said coil adjacent the liquid-solid suspension approach side of each of said slots, the highest portion -of eachof said riles being adjacent its associated slot, a valve for each of said slots mounted in said pipe, a transparent containerY removably mounted on the lowermost lportion o'f each convolution of said `coil with its interior in communication with its associated slot, and means formoving a body of liquid-suspended solids through said coil.

Cil

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Morscher Apr. 16, 1912 Smith July 7, 1925 '"Martling Jan. `S, 1929 Rose elt a1., Mar. 17, 1931 `Paar Nov. 15, 1932 England Apr. 20, 1943 Bailey Feb. 12, 1952 Bloksma Dec. 21, 1954 ICloos lune V2 1959 Milne '-Gct. 24, I,19651 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec.` 2-1, 1,955 

